Table: Some Causes of Noninfectious Meningitis - Merck Manuals Consumer Version

Some Causes of Noninfectious Meningitis

Type	Examples
Disorders	Behçet disease Behçet Disease Behçet disease is chronic blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis) that can cause painful mouth and genital sores, skin lesions, and eye problems. The joints, nervous system, and digestive tract... read more Cancer that has spread to the brain from other parts of the body (metastatic cancer), as can occur in leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, or breast or lung cancer Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis in which joints, usually including those of the hands and feet, are inflamed, resulting in swelling, pain, and often destruction of joints.... read more Rupture of a brain cyst Sarcoidosis Sarcoidosis Sarcoidosis is a disease in which abnormal collections of inflammatory cells (granulomas) form in many organs of the body. Sarcoidosis usually develops in people aged 20 to 40 years, most often... read more Sjögren syndrome Sjögren Syndrome Sjögren syndrome is a common autoimmune connective tissue disorder and is characterized by excessive dryness of the eyes, mouth, and other mucous membranes. White blood cells can infiltrate... read more Systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory connective tissue disorder that can involve joints, kidneys, skin, mucous membranes, and blood vessel walls. Problems in the... read more (lupus)
Drugs that suppress the immune system (used to treat autoimmune disorders and inflammation or to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ)	Azathioprine Cyclosporine Cytosine arabinoside Immune globulin given by vein (intravenously) Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, sulindac, and tolmetin
Other drugs	Certain antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, isoniazid, and penicillin Carbamazepine (an antiseizure drug) Phenazopyridine (used to treat urinary symptoms) Ranitidine* (used to treat stomach ulcers) Sulfa drugs, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (an antibiotic) and sulfasalazine (used to treat ulcerative colitis)
Substances that are injected into the subarachnoid space† for treatment or diagnosis	Anesthetics Antibiotics Chemotherapy drugs Radiopaque contrast agents used in imaging tests
*Ranitidine (taken by mouth, intravenously, and over the counter) has been removed from the market in the United States and in many other countries because of unacceptable levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which is a substance that probably causes cancer.
†The subarachnoid space contains cerebrospinal fluid and is located between middle and inner layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord (meninges).